Welfare

What were the main aims of the GDR’s welfare system?

To guarantee employment, improve living standards, and secure loyalty to the regime.

What was the 'social contract'?

A promise made by Honecker in 1971 to improve living standards in return for loyalty and productivity.

Give three examples of welfare policies under the social contract.

Subsidised food, rent, and transport; expanded healthcare; increased pensions; generous maternity and childcare benefits.

How did the government promote equality in access to welfare?

Universal healthcare, education, and childcare were state-funded and widely available.

What percentage of income did East Germans spend on rent?

Around 4–5%.

What was the average rent in the GDR in 1989?

About 80 marks per month.

Give two weaknesses of the housing policy.

Chronic shortages; long waiting lists; poor quality and lack of maintenance.

What were Plattenbau?

Prefabricated concrete housing blocks built to address shortages.

What percentage of East Germans lived in Plattenbau by 1989?

Around 44%.

What was the GDR’s policy on employment?

Guaranteed jobs for all; unemployment officially did not exist.

How many women were employed by the 1980s?

Around 90% of working-age women.

Why was productivity low despite full employment?

Overstaffing, lack of incentives, and outdated equipment reduced efficiency.

What was the standard working week?

43.75 hours (reduced to 40 by 1978 in many industries).

What did the state provide for workers?

Paid holidays, workplace canteens, healthcare, and subsidised recreation.

Give one example of state-provided recreation.

Subsidised holidays via trade unions or state resorts like the Baltic coast.

What was the main trade union in the GDR?

FDGB – Free German Trade Union Federation.

What percentage of adults were FDGB members?

Around 97%.

What role did the FDGB play?

Organised holidays, social events, and monitored worker loyalty to the SED.

What was the GDR’s healthcare system based on?

State-funded universal healthcare, with hospitals, clinics, and workplace doctors.

What was the ratio of doctors to people by the 1980s?

1 doctor per 550 citizens.

What was a strength of the GDR healthcare system?

Free access, preventative care, workplace health services, and maternity care.

Give two weaknesses of the healthcare system.

Outdated equipment and medicine shortages; better facilities reserved for the elite.

What was the life expectancy in the GDR by the 1980s?

Men: 69 years; Women: 74 years.

What was the main cause of poor health in the GDR?

Pollution from lignite coal and poor air quality.

Give one example of social benefits for families.

Maternity leave (26 weeks by 1976), child allowances, and subsidised childcare.

How many children attended state crèches by 1980?

Over 80%.

What did the GDR’s welfare system depend on economically?

A strong economy and subsidies from the USSR.

What was one consequence of maintaining subsidies?

High government debt and declining efficiency in other sectors.